• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2003

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of positron emission tomography with 2-[F-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose in discrimination of response in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who treated with radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: Twenty-four patients who underwent FDG-PET scan before and after radiotherapy for no disseminated head and neck carcinoma at the Asan Medical Center between August 2001 and September 2002 were evaluate by prospective analysis. First FDG-PET scan performed before radiotherapy within 1 month, and second FDG-PET scan performed 1 month after radiotherapy. FDG-PET images were analyzed by standard uptake value (SUV). Follow-up period was more than 6 months. Results: The pretreatment SUV was 3.4-14.0 (median: 6.0) and posttreatment SUV was ground level-7.7 (median: 2.0). The overall sensitivity and specicity of FDG-PET to evaluate residual tumors in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were 94% and 94%. Conclusion: FDG-PET is effective in evaluation of radiation response in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We think that the timing of one month after finished radiotherapy FDG-PET scan was not too fast to evaluation of radiation response.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.535-542
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine the mRNA levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 in the cell lines of normal oral keratocyte and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Total RNA was extracted from these cell lines, observed under UV light, developed by radiographic films of PCR products via reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) amplication, and measured with densitometer. Each mRNA level of these cell lines divided by ${\beta}$-actin mRNA level was compared to that of normal control group. The results were as follows: 1. Higher mRNA expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ than IL-6 in the normal oral epithelial cell line. 2. In general, expression of mRNA of IL-6 appeared 3-4 times more in tumor cell lines than in control group. 3. mRNA expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ showed variable expression in tumor cell lines, unlike normal cell line. 4. There are no special connections between differentiation of oral cancer cell lines and mRNA expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6. From the above results, expression of mRNA of IL-6 in the cell lines of squamous cell carcinoma used in this study has higher than the normal oral epithelial cell line, but there are no relationship between the differentiation of oral cancer cell lines and the expression of mRNA of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.653-659
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• 1999

Background: Despite the recent promising efforts to improve survival in patients with esophageal carcinoma, the long term survival results of patients with esophageal cancer have seldom been reported in Korea. To establish standard control for future studies, we re trospectively analyzed the surgical treatment results of the esophageal cancer patients managed in our department at Seoul National University Hospital. Material and Method: From January 1984 to December 1996, 734 patients were diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Among them, 253 patients underwent surgery in our department. We retrospectively analyzed the operative results and long term survival rates of these patients. Result: The majority of patients(237) had squamous cell histology and only 6 patients had adenocarcinoma. The final TNM stage grouping for these patients was based on the 1988 revised American Joint Commitee on Cancer classification. Twenty one patients were surgically classified as stage I, 109 as stage II, and 107 as stage III. C respiratory failure in 8, sepsis in 1, hepatic failure in 1, bleeding in 1 and unknown etiology in the remaining 3. The actuarial survival of 222 patients in whom the curative resection was accomplished at 1-, 2-, 3- and 5 years was 74.7${\pm}$3.1%, 46.5${\pm}$3.7%, 32.3${\pm}$3.7%, and 19.9${\pm}$3.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The poor long term survival rates suggest that an alternative treatment method such as intensive combined modality therapy should be developed for the management of esophageal cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.198-202
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• 1998

The recurrence of an anterior mediastinal mass was discovered incidentally on the chest film for an asymptomatic 72-year-old female. She underwent the mass resection at the same site in 1989 and was diagnosed as a paraganglioma of the anterior mediastinum. She had poorly controlled hypertension which was converted into normal blood pressure after the first operation. During the follow up, the catecholamine levels were within normal limits, and there were no evidence of recurrence of the tumor. However, 6.3 years later, the mass recurred at the same anterior mediastinum. The patient had no hypertension and catecholamine levels were still within normal limits. The recurring mass was successfully removed and had the same histological findings - recurring paraganglioma.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1056-1062
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• 2016

Lung cancer is currently the most common malignant disease and the leading cause of mortality in the world and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 75-80% of lung cancer cases. miR-155 gene was found to be over expressed in several solid tumors, such as thyroid carcinoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and lung cancer. The aims of this study were to define the expression of miR-155 in lung cancer and its associated clinic-pathologic characteristics. Total RNA was purified from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NSCLC tissues and benign lung tissues. Expression of miR-155 in human lung cancer tissues were evaluated as mean fold changes of miR-155 in cancer tissues compared to benign lung tissues by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time qRT-PCR) and associations of miR-155 expression with clinic-pathologic findings of cancer. Compared with the benign control group, miR-155 expression was significantly overexpressed in NSCLCs (p=<0.001). miR-155 was more overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma. Poorly differentiated tumors showed significantly overexpression of miR-155 than well-differentiated tumors (p=<0.001). Overexpression of miR-155 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (p=<0.05). In survival analysis for all NSCLC patients, high miR-155 expression was significantly correlated with worse overall survival (p=<0.05). These results suggested that miR-155 might play an important role in lung cancer progression and metastasis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.246-249
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• 1998

With the recent progress of microsurgical techniques, radial forearm free flap has an established place in oral reconstruction. Providing thin, soft and pliable skin with a large and constant vascular pedicle, this flap is optimal for intraoral reconstruction. One of the disadvantages of the flap is donor site morbidity, therefore various methods can be used to reduce it. A male complained of palatal and retromolar area mass with ulceration, which was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. He also complained of discomfort and mouth opening limitation, attributed to the location and characteristics of the mass. Because of mouth opening limitation, mandibular swing approach was performed to allow for the surgical approach to the mass. After the surgical excison of the lesion, the intraoral defect was successfully reconstructed with radial forearm free flap.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.465-472
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• 2008

We experienced a rare case of oral squamous cell carcinoma arisen from gingival tissues overlying prolonged chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible. A 66 years old man complained of unhealed extraction sockets of left mandibular second premolar and first molar, and showed extensive leukoplakia in the gingival tissues of the same area. The inflammation of the socket granuloma became severe and extended into adjacent mandibular proper, resulted in diffuse suppurative chronic osteomyelitis of mandibular body, exhibiting irregular osteolytic changes of mandibular trabecular patterns in mottled radiolucent appearance. The leukoplakia was initially diagnosed under microscope, and the involved gingival tissues were radically removed. Thereafter, the gingival soft tissue inflammation involving the mandibular osteomyelitis was hardly healed for two years. During the period of repeated surgical treatments for the inflamed lesion, nine biopsies were taken sequentially. Until the eighth biopsy, there consistently showed the suppurative osteomyelitis with ingrowing gingival tissues into the bony inflammatory lesion. The gingival epithelium showed the features of leukoplakia but no evidence of malignant changes. However, the ninth biopsy, taken about 2 years after initial diagnosis, showed the early carcinomatous changes of the gingival epithelium. The neoplastic epithelial cells were relatively well differentiated with many keratin pearls, and infiltrated only into underlying connective tissues. So, we presumed that the present case of squamous cell carcinoma was caused by the persistent inflammatory condition of the mandibular osteomyelitis, and also suggest that the leukoplakia should be carefully removed in the beginning to prevent the neoplatic promotion of the chronic inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.167-171
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• 2004

Background and Objectives: Squamous cell carcinoma of retromolar tringone (RMT) is an uncommon head and neck tumor. RMT cancer has unique clinical feature and specific considerations for surgical treatment are needed but, reports on the treatment of RMT cancer are still lacking. Patients and Methods: From May 1997 to July 2004, 8 patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the RMT were treated in Severance Hospital. Surgical excision of the primary lesion and neck dissection were performed in all patients. Reconstruction was accomplishing using several methods. Charts and other medical records were reviewed. Results: In early cases, lower cheek flap was appropriate but, mandibular swing or madibulectomy approach was appropriate in advanced cases. Reconstruction was needed in all patients and excision of mandible was needed in majority of patients. 6 patients were disease free status and one died from recurrence and one was lost to follow up. Conclusion: In treatment of RMT cancer, several surgical approach methods and reconstruction should be considered before treatment. Surgical treatment of RMT cancer may be one of a useful primary treatment modality.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2005

To determine the correlation between mast cells(MCs) and neoangiogenesis in the growth and progression of cervical cancer, we investigated mast cell density(MCD), microvessel density(MVD) and the expression of vascular epithelial growth factor(VEGF) in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive suqamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Forty-five cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN I, II and III), 15 microinvasive carcinomas, 15 invasive squamous cell carcinomas and 20 normal cervical epithelia were included in this study. MCs were stained with anti-c-Kit antibody and alcian blue, microvessels with anti-factor VIII antibody and VEGF with anti-VEGF antibody. The adjacent fields of both normal and neoplastic epithelium were used for counting MCs and microvessels. Computerized image analysis was used to evaluate MCD and MVD. MCD and MVD were the mean numbers per $1mm^2$ counted in 5-10 high and low power fields respectively. In both c-Kit and alcian blue stained sections, MCD progressively increased along the continuum from CIN I to invasive squamous cell carcinoma(p<0.001). MVD increased significantly with cervical neoplasia progression, from CIN to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.001). In double c-Kit and Factor VIII-stained sections, MCs were mainly present in the areas adjacent to newly formed blood vessels. However, there were no significant differences in MCD and MVD between normal epithelum and CIN I. A strong correlation was also observed between MCD and MVD. In double VEGF and alcian blue-stained sections, VEGF was expressed in only MCs. Strong VEGF-positive MCs were particularly abundant around the tumorous region. Our results suggest that MCs may upregulate neoangiogenesis by VGEF secretion in the development and progression of cervical neoplasia.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2009

Tumor angiogenesis is a process leading to formation of blood vessels within tumors and is crucial for maintaining a supply of oxygen and nutrients to support tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis including induction of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, survival and capillary tube formation. VEGF binds to two distinct receptors on endothelial cells. VEGFR-2 is considered to be the dominant signaling receptor for endothelial cell permeability, proliferation, and differentiation. Bevacizumab(Avastin, Genetech, USA) is a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor. It is used in the treatment of cancer, where it inhibits tumor growth by blocking the formation of new blood vessels. The goal of this study is to identify the anti-tumor effect of Bevacizumab(Avastin) for oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Human squamous cell carcinoma cell line(HN4) was used in this study. We examined the sensitivity of HN4 cell line to Bevacizumab(Avastin) by using in vitro proliferation assays. The results were as follows. 1. In the result of MTT assay according to concentration of Bevacizumab(Avastin), antiproliferative effect for oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines was observed. 2. The growth curve of cell line showed the gradual growth inhibition of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines after exposure of Bevacizumab(Avastin). 3. In the apoptotic index, groups inoculated Bevacizumab(Avastin) were higher than control groups. 4. In condition of serum starvation, VEGFR-2 did not show any detectable autophosphorylation, whereas the addition of VEGF activated the receptor. Suppression of phosphorylated VEGFR-2 and phosphorylated MAPK was observed following treatment with Bevacizumab(Avastin) in a dose-dependent manner. 5. In TEM view, dispersed nuclear membrane, scattered many cytoplasmic vacuoles and localized chromosomal margination after Bevacizumab(Avastin) treatment were observed. These findings suggest that Bevacizumab(Avastin) has the potential to inhibit MAPK pathway in proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines via inhibition of VEGF-dependent tumor growth.